Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-20
yICTORIA,s JUBILEE.
"reminiscences OF a Sacramentan Who
Was In London at Her Coronation.


EDS. RECORD UNION: On the 14th of
June, 1887, the writer of this was in
the mall or drive of st. James Park
playing with number of boys, when the
rear gate of st. James Palace was thrown
open. First came two outriders on horse
back, then carriage with four horses and
two positions, all going at full speed. In
the carriage there were two gentlemen.
muffied up, wearing white hats and light
colored oyercoats. One of the gentlemen.
who was feeble and aged was King William
", going to Windsor Castle to die. He
died on the night of June 10th. Couriers
were Immediately dispatched to London
with the news, for this was before the age
OF telegraphs and railroads; at least, they
were then in their infancy. On the morn
ing of June 20, 1887, similar carriage
came through the park, along the mall, and
through the same gates to old st. James
Palace. 1t was the Princess Victoria and
her mother, the Duchess of Kent, lust ar
| rived from kensington Palace less than
two miles distant). In about two hours
the Princess came out, dressed in the royal
| robes, accompanied by number efcarriaees
containing members of the Government
and the aristocracy, this time escorted
by troops of horse and light guards. The
procession marched slong the park.
through Whitehall, along Charing Cross
Strand Temple Bar, Ludgate Hill and on
to Guildhalls and the Mansion House.
where the procession was met by the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen and city officials. The
Princess Victoria was sworn in by the Lord
Mayor and proclaimed by him Queen of
| the Realm. The flags that had been flying
| at half-mast were now raised mast high.
| the signal was given, cheering commenced
and the vast crowds shouted till they were
hoarse, with the words, 1.-The King is dead
| long live the Queen !" The big bell of St
PauPs Cathedral, which had been tolling
all the morning, and is tolled only on a
! royal death, now gave way to the ringing OF
bells and chimes of all the churches. The
| guns at all the castles, forts, parks and bar
racks fired their royal salutes and the ex-
| element was at its hight.
On June %. 1885, the grandest procession
that ever was seen in London took place
when Victoria was crowned and anointed
IN Westminster Abbey Queen of Great
Britain and all the Colonies. The process
sion was several miles long. Members O,
all the royal families of Europe, as well as
many of the old Waterloo heroes. were
present on this occasion. At night the
illuminations, bonfires and fireworks all
over London and England were the grandesi
that money could procure. All the theaters
concert halls, and all places of amusement
were thrown open free to everybody, fol-
mirth and iollity reigned supreme Febru.
airy 10, 1S40, another grand procession took
place in the mall, when Queen Victoria left
| Buckingham Palace for ST. James Chapel
Royal lin the palace) to be married to
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg- Gotha. The
rain on this occasion came down in tor.
rents, but the spectators kept their places
| till the procession returned
| Fifty years have come and gone, and the
writer of this, who saw from the outside
the last of William and the first of Vic
toria, wildly remembers the scenes. There
were very few, not over Dozen present on
these two occasions, but of them, and the
vast crowds at the coronation and wedding
professions, how few are now living who
can write about the same Thus he think:
he should pen these few lines of history on
Queen Victoria's fiftieth Jubilee, which oc
ours on Monday, June 20, 1887, when the
coronation scenes are to be re-enacted il
| London and Westminster Abbey.
RICHARD DALE